I reckon I'm still in the honeymoon/sleep deprived phase of my arrival, because I'm still smiling and saying hello to strangers and apologizing to everyone I bump into on the trains!
Rewind back a few days- my flight was hilarious. Some of you may know that I have a slight aversion to flying (weird right? I only do it all the time) so my new approach generally involves a preemptive trip to the bar before getting on the plane. This time the bar definitely came with me onto the plane and stayed with me until my arrival the next morning... didn't get a wink of sleep and managed to stumble off the plane with some newly made friends. My poor friends that came to pick me up... it's bad enough that I'm a silly Canadian- add some sleep deprivation and lots of gin and I can imagine they were happy to see me off at home! (I'll make up for it with my presents- that's right Lindsay, you know what I mean!)
Sidenote: I'm sitting on the couch drinking tea and watching "Top Gear" in the background. Just feels right on a Saturday morning.
You know, it's really nice this time around because I don't feel like a tourist anymore. It's funny, the moment I stepped off the train yesterday, the speed of my walking tripled and I started dodging the tourists who stop in the middle of everywhere and stare blankly at signs and tube stations. It felt good to know where I was going and not to hesitate even for a moment. The first time I felt like I resembled a proper Londoner was the day someone asked me for directions and I actually knew the answer!
Perhaps this fading tourist sentiment will help me make better choices this time around regarding my diet and beverage consumption. The last time always felt like I was on vacation, therefore constantly allowing me to live in this moment of exception. "Another pint? Why not! I'm on vacation!" Keep in mind that I worked quite hard for several months for a global bank in London's financial district, yet I still managed to justify everything with this vacation mindset.
Speaking of work, I have an interview on Monday with an agency right in the city (near the Tower of London!) and I'm praying for a good outcome. All positive thoughts and prayers are definitely welcomed :) I haven't managed to score a job with the Olympics as originally desired, so I'm hoping to find something worthwhile that will help me to afford living in this expensive city. And to help me afford showing friends a good time when they come visit me (wink wink).
In other news, I have an embarrassing confession. In all the time I've been here... I have never gone to the museums or art galleries. I know- it's bad. It's not even like there's a good excuse, because they are all completely accessible and totally free! So, I have decided to make the effort to visit as many as possible and got a great start yesterday at the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square. It was incredible... and I'm not just saying that to pretend like I'm worldly and cultured (kind of like some people do on a first date). I saw Monet, Van Gogh, Turner, and other amazing works. Brilliant.
This cultural experience was followed by another when I was invited onto a ship on the Thames to enjoy a drink! After only one, I stumbled back to the bar and couldn't believe I was such a mess... until I realized it was, in fact, the boat that was swaying. Phew!
Right, it's time to make a dent in my unpacking... More updates to come later :)
After my time on a cruise, I have come to the conclusion that when one is on a boat, one will always get drunk quicker. I was hammered the whole time!
ReplyDeleteAre museums really free in London? That's awesome! I wish more museums were free I'm a total nerd, as well as a cheapskate.